Sewing machine lubrication



IN VE N TOR Hansflac/r/ander T2 June 28, 1960 M m w 2 c 6 O 2 5 n w m 5 we 0 4 o ix: x w 3 M a @iw a m m 2 u I m aw Q s M Q In B /%//////M& 3 "W x & l. 6 w a Q longitudinally of the drive shaft 2,942,566 SEWING MACHINE LUBRICATION Original application Dec. 19, 1955, Ser. No. 553,806. Divided and this application Mar. 26, 1957, Ser. No. 648,579

3 Claims. (Cl. 112-256) The present invention relates to thelubrication of a sewing machine and particularly toan improved oil sling for-agitating the lubricant in a closed splash-lubricated compartment of a sewingrnachine. The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved oil sling for a sewing machine, which oil sling is more efiicient in its intended operation, particularly when applied to modcm high speed machines, and which at the same time, is simple and economical.

Having in mind the above and other objects that will be evident from an understanding of this disclosure, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts as illustrated in the presently preferred embodiment of the invention which is hereinafter set forth in such detail as to enable thoseskilled in the art readily to' understand the function, operation, con:

struction and advantages of it whenread in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. '1 is a vertical sectional view longitudinally of a sewing machine, embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken of the sewing machine illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view in section" of an oil sling constructed in accordance with the present in-' vention together with its supporting means.

The present invention is herein illustrated and 'described as embodied in the sewing machine that forms the subject matter of my prior application Serial No;

553,806, filed December 19, 1955, from which the present application has been divided.

With reference to the drawings, the illustrated machine comprises a frame "1 including a Vertically arranged hollow standard 2 carrying a laterally extending bracket arm 3. The hollow interior of the standard 2 comprises an oil-tight splash-lubricated compartment 4 which is closed at the top. by a horizontal partition 5 and closed at the bottom by a base plate 6. The partition 5 serves to separate the compartment 4 from the hollow interior of the bracket arm 3 which is closed at the top by a cover plate 7 secured by a resilient connection comprising a spring 8 seated in a circular recess 9.-formed in a depending boss in the cover plate. The'spring 8 bears at its lower end against a spring seat which consists of the bottom of the recess 9 and at its upper end against the under side of the head of ascrew 10. The screw 10 is threaded into a hollow stud 11 that extends loosely through an aperture in the bottom of the recess 9 and is threaded through a tapped opening in the partition 5 into the splash-lubricated compartment 4. The stud 11 is locked by a nut 12. The stud 11 constitutes the filling aperture for introducing lubricant into the compartment 4, the lower portion of which comprises a lubricant reservoir in which the lubricant accumulates.

A vertical axis main shaft 13 is journaled for rotation longitudinally of the standard 2 in an upper bearing bushing 14 secured in an aperture in the partition 5 and a lower bearing bushing 15 carried by a lug 16 extending States atcnt Qiifice inwardly from the wall of the standard 2. At its upper end, the shaft 13 extends through the upper bearing-14 to the exterior of the' frame where it receives a hand wheel 17.

The main shaft 13 is. secured against vertical movement by a collar 18 and the hub of a gear 19 which engage the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the bushing 15. The gear 19 meshes with a'similar gear 20 on a horizontal axis drive shaft'21 lubricated compartment 4 in a bushing 22 mounted in a lug 23 in the wall of the standard 2 and in a bushing 24 mounted in a partition 25 forming one of the walls of a belt pulley compartment 26 that is separated from the splash-lubricated compartment 4. The drive shaft 21 extends through the bushing 24 into the belt pulley compartment 26 where it has mounted thereon a belt pulley by a pitman 33 to a crank 34 on the main shaft 13. Co-' operating with the needle 32 is a threaded looper 35 carried by -a looper carrier or clamp 36a mounted upon the outer end of an oscillating looper bar 36 that is journaled in a bushing 37 in a lug 38 in the front wall 31 of the standard 2. At its inner end, within the splash-lubricated compartment 4, the looper bar 36 is connected by a crank 39 and pitman 40 with an eccentric 41 on the main shaft 13. There is a second threaded looper 42 that cooperates during stitch formation with the needle 32 and looper 35." V

the looper 42 are not.

The mounting and-drive means for herein fully disclosed but comprises a looper carrier or clamp 43 carrying the looper 42 and mounted upon the outer, end of a looper bar 44 which is oscillated by a drive means disposed within the splash-lubricated compartment 4 including a pitman 45 and 'an eccentric 46 on' the main shaft 13. I

The feeding mechanism of the machine comprises .a-

pair of opposed feed cups including an inner feed cup 47 and an outer feed cup 48. The inner feed cup 47 is mounted upon the upper end of a feed shaft 49 journaled in the standard 2. shaft 49, within the splash-lubricated compartment 4, is a gear 5 0 that meshes with a gear 51 on a feed actuating shaft 52. Intermittent the shaft 52 by a one-way clutch 53 having an arm 54 connected by a pitman 55 to an adjustable eccentric ,56 on the drive shaft'21. upon the lower end of a feed shaft 57 journaled in the bracket arm 3 and having a pulley 58 connected by a belt 59 to a similar pulley 60'on the feed drive shaft 52.

Lubricant is introduced into the closed splash-lubricatedcompartment 4 through the hollow stud 11 to fill the compartment 4 to the desired level, the lower portion of the compartment 4 thus comprising a lubricant reservoir. The lubricant is agitated in the splash-lubricated compartment 4 to lubricate the mechanism therein by means including an oil sling 61 formed of an integral piece of sheet metal and comprising a supporting or central section 62 and an outer section 63. The central section 62 is a substantially planar circular disc that is arranged generally normal to the drive shaft 21 and is secured to the drive shaft 21 for rotation therewith by screws 64 threaded into the hub of the gear 20. The outer section 63 is turned inwardly toward the axis of the central section 62 from the outer portion of the central section to form an annular trough 65 open in- Patented June 28, 1960 Y journaled for rotation in the splash Mounted on the lower end of the feed,

one-way rotation'i-s imparted to The outer feed cup 48 is mounted wardly toward the center of rotation or more specifically, extends laterally relatively to the plane of the central secrotation of the oil sling with a free edge 68 disposed inwardly of the circle of maximum diameter of the bottom 66. The bottom 66 is provided with a plurality of apertures 69 spaced along the circle of maximum diameter. In the specific illustrated embodiment of the invention, the outer section 63 of the oil sling 61, considered in cross section, is formed equidistantly about a point A spaced laterally from the outer portion of the central section 62 to define a semi-circle. Thus the trough 65 is semi-circular in cross section, or in other words, comprises one half of an annulus of circular cross section and formed concentrically of the axis of the central section 62. V V

The oil sling 61 is dimensioned with relation to the height of the drive shaft 20 upon which it is mounted and the designed level of the lubricant in the bottom portion of the compartment 4 which is the lubricant reservoir, so that the lower portion of the trough 65 will extend below the level of the-lubricant in the reservoir. Thus, when the machine is stopped, the submerged portion of the trough 65 will be filled with lubricant. When the machine is operated, the lubricant in the trough 65 will, by centrifugal action, be spread out in the trough 65 and will be slowly forced outwardly through the aperture 69. Thus, the present oil sling has a positive action in that the lubricant that enters the trough 65 when the machine is stopped, is in effect trapped in the trough dur ing operation of the machine and can escape only by being forced by centrifugal action through the apertures 69' which, because the apertures are small, occurs-at a relatively slow rate.

Numerous alterations ofthe structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to a preferred embodiment of my invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. All such modi fications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included'within the scope ofthe appended claims.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what Iclaim herein is:

1. In a sewing machine having a frame, a closed splash-lubricated compartment formed internally of said frame and including a lubricant reservoir, stitching mechanism and feeding mechanism carried by said frame and including actuating elements in said splash-lubricated compartment, a rotary shaft journaled in said frame and extending into said splash-lubricated compartment, operative connections within said splash-lubricated compartment between said shaft and said actuating elements of said stitching and feeding mechanisms, and means for agitating lubricant in said splash-lubricated compartment comprising an oil-sling mounted on said shaft and having an annular trough disposed concentrically of said shaft and open inwardly toward the axis of said shaft, said oil sling being disposed on said shaft with the lower portion of said trough extending below the designed level of the lubricant in said reservoir, said trough having a plurality of spaced apertures in the bottom of said stitching and feeding mechanisms,

4- thereof whereby when said shaft is rotated said trough will be rotated and the lubricant therein will be forced outwardly through the openings by centrifugal force. 2. In a sewing machine having a frame, a closed splash-lubricated compartment formed internally of said frame and including a lubricant reservoir, stitching mechanism and feeding mechanism carried by said frame and including actuating elements in said splash-lubricated compartment, a rotary shaft journaled in said frame and extending into said splash-lubricatedcompartment, operative connections within said splash-lubricated compartment between said shaft and said actuating elements and means for agitating lubricant in said splash-lubricated compartment during operation of the sewing machine comprising an oil sling consisting of a central section secured to said shaft for rotation therewith and an outer section extending laterally relatively to said central section and terminating in a flange-like portion extending inwardly toward the axis of said shaft to define a trough open inwardly toward the axis of said shaft, said oil sling being disposed on said shaft with the lower portion of said trough extending below the designed level of the lubricant in said reservoir, said trough having a plurality of spaced apertures in the bottom thereof whereby when said shaft is rotated said trough will be rotated and the lubricant therein will be forced outwardly through the openings 7 by centrifugal force.

' and including actuating elements in said splash-lubricated compartment, a rotary shaft journaled in said frame and extending into said splash-lubricated compartment, operative connections within said spash-lubricated compartment between said shaft and said actuating elements of said stitching and feeding mechanisms, and means for agitating lubricant in said splash-lubricated compartment during operation of the sewing machine comprising an oil sling consisting of a circular central section secured to said shaft for rotation therewith and an outer section semi-circular in cros-section and formed about a point spaced laterally from the outer portions of said central section to define a trough that is open inwardly toward the axis of said shaft, said oil sling being disposed on saidshaft with the lower portion of said trough extending below the designed level of the lubricant in said reservoir, said trough having a plurality of spaced apertures in the bottom thereof whereby when said shaft is rotated said trough will be rotated and the lubricant therein will be forced outwardly through the openings by centrifugal force.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 809,740 Patterson Ian. 9, 1906 1,170,057 Farnum Feb. 1, 1916 2,134,490 Shartle Oct. 25, 1938 2,241,870 Scribner May 13, 1941 2,249,284 Christensen July 15, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 830,292 Germany Feb. 4, 1952 

